Florida State League (1994-2004)
Tombstone
Born: Affiliation change from Sarasota White Sox
Affiliation Change: 2005 (Sarasota Reds)
First Game:
Last Game:
FSL Championships: None
Stadium
Ed Smith Stadium (7,500)
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Boston Red Sox
Major League Affiliation: Boston Red Sox
Background
The Sarasota Red Sox were a Class A Advanced farm club of the Boston Red Sox for eleven seasons. The team was owned directly by the Red Sox organization throughout this time.
Sarasota posted just three winning seasons in the Florida State League (1994, 1988, 2004) as a Sox affiliate. But the club played a role in developing numerous future All-Stars for Boston and other clubs, including:
- Nomar Garciaparra (Sarasota ’94)
- Trot Nixon (Sarasota ’95)
- Aaron Sele (Sarasota ’95)
- Shea Hillenbrand (Sarasota ’97)
- David Eckstein (Sarasota ’98)
- Freddy Sanchez (Sarasota ’01)
- Kevin Youkilis (Sarasota ’02)
- Dustin Pedroia (Sarasota ’04)
- Hanley Ramirez (Sarasota ’04)
Departure & Replacement
At the end of the 2004 season, Boston moved its Class A Advanced operation to Wilmington, Delaware of the Carolina League. For the 2005 season, the Red Sox leased their Florida State League franchise to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati had held their spring training at Ed Smith Stadium since 1998 and the move allowed the Reds to consolidate their training camp and Florida State League operations in the same locale.
In 2006 Cincinnati purchased the Sarasota franchise outright from Boston. The Sarasota Reds played at Ed Smith Stadium from 2005 to 2009. In 2009 the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired the ball club from Cincinnati moved the club to Brandenton, Florida The former Sarasota Red Sox franchise is still active today as the Bradenton Marauders.
Downloads
6-14-1999 Sarasota Red Sox Roster Sheet
6-14-1999 Sarasota Red Sox Roster
Links
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